SKETCHES OF CHARACTER.

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tions; and the breakfast things are kept waiting on the table half an hour longer than they need be, to the great discomposure of her friends and the servants. Her

But

sisters request her to take a walk; she goes up stairs to get ready, but she is so long, they either set off without her, or stay till the day grows cloudy, or else they find they have no choice between giving up their walk, or half their morning studies. Mary Anne wishes to make some baby clothes for a poor neighbour, or some elegant present for a friend she is going to see. She begins the baby clothes when the poor woman begins to be in great distress for them, and she buys the materials for her present the day before she sets off to her friend. She has affronted one half of her friends, by never answering their letters, and the other half by writing them a great many promises, not one of which she keeps. She resolves to have a general putting away and sorting of papers, books, and drawings-arranging her clothes, cleaning her cabinet, and settling her accounts. this day so much to be desired, never comes; hence her room gives a tolerable idea of chaos, her collection of curiosities is spoilt by the dust, her accounts are in confusion, and her clothes cry out for needles and thread. She has been appointed Treasurer or Secretary to several associations, but these are now filled by her sisters, for she never made up her accounts, or kept her minutes. She is very fond of reading, but never can find time for it; the case is the same with drawing and music. Yet I never could find out what it was that so ccupied her time-she always appeared to me to be etween two things-she had just finished such a thing, d was just going to begin another. Is she invited to party, she sits down to study Dugald Stewart just as e others go to dress; and begins to dress when the riage comes to the door. Yet Mary Anne is amiable, od-natured, and very sensible of her faults; she is alys going to mend, but never has accomplished it yet. t she is amiable, I have said, but nobody likes her,

How indeed can they? for not contented with wasting her own time, and being useless herself, nine times out of ten she wastes other people's time, and makes them useless too. ADELAIDE.

"NOT AT HOME."

To the Editor of the Assistant of Education. MADAM,

The favourable reception which has been given to some of the requests of your correspondents, induces me to take the liberty of proposing a subject for your consideration; which should you think of importance enough to notice in any of your Listeners, I think may prove useful to many of the admirers of your " Assistant of Education: particularly to those who are doubtful as to the propriety of conforming to this fashion-I mean the general practice of telling your servant to say you are not at home" if any one calls, though you have not the least intention of leaving the house: if you do not think this answer, being understood, is a sufficient excuse to justify the untruth. Can you, Madam, suggest a reply to the enquiry, is Mrs. at home, without affronting your acquaintance, or being under the disagreeable necessity of admitting every one who calls? some persons satisfy their conscience with saying, they are engaged. This may sometimes be the case; but can this be considered the truth, if you are not more than usually occupied ?

I remain, Madam,

May 30th, 1827.

Your humble servant,

Q.

We would on no subject refuse our opinions to those who do us the honour to ask them: on this we are only

reluctant, because all has been said that can be said on a difficulty of every day occurrence. Why it is a difficulty, and why a question, christians might do well to ask themselves. Does not this and everyother embarassment of the sort, arise out of our determination to unite what God has separated, and serve and obey two masters? We are determined at once to be christian and to be fashionable; to act upon opposing principles without opposition; and stand well with a world to which we cannot conscientiously conform. The result is what it might be expected to be every day some new embarrassment-" It is not right, but what can I do?" "It is not truth, but what can I say?" Do one of two things. Give up the fear of God, or the fear of man. To fear both, is a portion too hard for any body's endurance. "Choose you whom ye will serve." If the world, nothing can be more sensible than to obey its dictates, conform to its practices, and let words mean what the conventions of society choose they should mean. Say, by all means, that you are "not at home." It is in the statute book of your kingdom, which cannot be broken without mutiny. The words are not truth, and were never meant for it, neither is there any understanding by which they become so. They are meant to deceive. The lady who denies herself, takes care not to be seen; and if occasion presses, will repeat the deception afterwards by saying, she is very sorry she was out. But what of that. What polished member of the world's society ever supposed a deception was of equal importance with an incivility ? The convention of which you are a member, expects from you a conformity to its rules, and I am persuaded that without offence to them, no truth can be substituted for this convenient falsehood. If there really were no deception intended, other words would be as well; but it is necessary so much equivocation be preserved, as will leave it doubtful whether you have refused your visitor admittance or not. While this is the established law of fashion, those who are in subjection to its service,

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cannot refuse the practice without offence. Scripture has said, His servants ye are whom ye obey-doubtless it would intend, that ye obey him whose servants ye

are.

But we do not perceive why this matter should be in any way embarassing to the servants of God. They do not pretend, we believe, to conform to the usages of the world-and why in, this particular more than others? What acquaintance does our correspondent speak of affronting? Not her Christian acquaintance, of coursethey understand her principle of action, and are influenced by the same. If it be her fashionable acquaintance, I fear we have a new deception added, to make sure the doubtful. It is not to be known that we have changed service—we mean still to pass for what we are determined not to be. Considering what is said in Scripture of those who conform to the world, and find acceptance in it, it seems strange that Christians should be embarassed about the difficulties of doing so conscientiously.

As to the substitution of another answer, if truth be the object, truth will supply it. I can imagine very few occasions on which "engaged" would not be truth. In common acceptation it implies, that we are so occupied, as not to wish for company. This can scarcely be other than the truth; unless we are indisposed, a reason that may be given for itself; or unless our visitors be those we are determined not in any case to see; a circumstance under which we cannot suppose christian rectitude would long retain their acquaintance. We believe a simple adherence to the apostle's injunction, "Be without dissimulation," would relieve us of most of these little embarassments between conscience and convenience -rid us, perhaps, of some troublesome acquaintance, and secure the esteem of the remainder.